Match local files to e621: MD5 lookups, manual links, batch scans

- MediaItem gains e621_match_status (unknown/matched/not_found/deleted)
  and e621_checked_at, backfilled for existing matched items.
- Server-side e621 client (apps/library/e621.py) using the user's stored
  credentials, throttled to 2 req/s, with typed errors.
- Matching service: MD5 lookup, manual post linking (flags MD5
  mismatches), unlink, metadata refresh, deleted-post detection.
- Detail actions POST /api/files/J-x/match/ and /unlink/ (uploader or
  staff only).
- Background library scans: MatchTask + /api/matches/ with missing/all
  scopes, progress polling, cancel and stale-task reaping; the scan
  counts toward the footer's Active Workers. Same pass available as
  manage.py match_e621 for cron.
- Library gains not_found/deleted status filters; the detail page adds
  an e621 match card (check / link by post ID / unlink) and the metadata
  card warns when a post was deleted on e621.

ROADMAP.md

@@ -31,10 +31,14 @@ they land.
   - [x] The status footer's "Active Workers" now counts running download tasks
 - [x] **Download to client** — streams the e621 original straight to the
       browser (works for guests; host-restricted proxy, no library write)
-- [ ] **Match local files to e621**
+- [x] **Match local files to e621**
-  - [ ] Match by MD5 from the library detail (manual post ID entry)
+  - [x] Match by MD5 from the library detail, plus manual post ID linking
-  - [ ] Batch cache status for the whole library (`matched` / `not_found` / `deleted`)
+        (with an MD5-mismatch warning) and unlink
-  - [ ] Show match status + e621 metadata in the library (model already supports it)
+  - [x] Batch cache status for the whole library (`matched` / `not_found` /
+        `deleted`) via background scan tasks (`/api/matches/`) and
+        `manage.py match_e621`
+  - [x] Show match status + e621 metadata in the library: status badge and
+        match card on the detail, and `not_found` / `deleted` status filters
 - [ ] **IQDB reverse search**
   - [ ] Search from a local file (`POST /iqdb_queries.json`)
   - [ ] Show candidate posts to link
@@ -104,4 +108,5 @@ Files now stage first and are resolved before entering the library.
 - Download progress, optimization jobs and the stats "Active Workers" count all
   want the same background-task/progress primitive — design it once.
 - IQDB and e621 matching depend on e621 credentials being configured; the SPA
-  already talks to e621 directly where possible.
+  talks to e621 directly for browsing, while the backend e621 client
+  (`apps/library/e621.py`) handles metadata matching and batch scans.

backend/apps/core/views.py

@@ -9,15 +9,15 @@ from .system_info import get_os_info
 
 
 def _worker_counts():
-    """Active/queued background jobs (download tasks for now)."""
+    """Active/queued background jobs (downloads and e621 match scans)."""
-    from apps.library.models import DownloadTask
+    from apps.library.models import DownloadTask, MatchTask
 
     active = DownloadTask.objects.filter(
         status=DownloadTask.STATUS_DOWNLOADING
-    ).count()
+    ).count() + MatchTask.objects.filter(status=MatchTask.STATUS_RUNNING).count()
     queued = DownloadTask.objects.filter(
         status=DownloadTask.STATUS_PENDING
-    ).count()
+    ).count() + MatchTask.objects.filter(status=MatchTask.STATUS_PENDING).count()
     return {"active": active, "queued": queued}
 
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class StatusView(APIView):
             "version": settings.APP_VERSION,
             "os": get_os_info(),
             "watched_folder": settings.WATCHED_FOLDER,
-            "e621_time_ms": None,  # no e621 calls in the backend yet
+            "e621_time_ms": None,  # e621 latency is measured client-side
             "workers": _worker_counts(),
         }
         payload["server_time_ms"] = round((time.perf_counter() - started) * 1000, 1)

backend/apps/library/downloads.py

@@ -111,7 +111,14 @@ def run_download_task(task_id):
         if task.e621_data:
             item.e621_post_id = task.post_id
             item.e621_data = task.e621_data
-            update_fields += ["e621_post_id", "e621_data"]
+            item.e621_match_status = MediaItem.E621_MATCHED
+            item.e621_checked_at = timezone.now()
+            update_fields += [
+                "e621_post_id",
+                "e621_data",
+                "e621_match_status",
+                "e621_checked_at",
+            ]
             rating = (task.e621_data or {}).get("rating")
             if not item.rating and rating in {"s", "q", "e"}:
                 item.rating = rating

backend/apps/library/e621.py

@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+"""Minimal e621 API client for server-side matching and metadata refresh.
+
+The SPA talks to e621 directly for browsing; this client exists for work the
+browser cannot do reliably: long batch scans, and requests tied to a library
+item rather than an open page. It uses the requesting user's stored
+credentials and a global throttle (e621 asks for at most two requests per
+second).
+"""
+
+import threading
+import time
+
+import requests
+from django.conf import settings
+
+REQUEST_INTERVAL = 0.5  # seconds between requests, per process
+
+
+class E621Error(Exception):
+    """A non-404 failure while talking to e621."""
+
+
+class E621NotFound(E621Error):
+    """The requested post does not exist (HTTP 404)."""
+
+
+_throttle_lock = threading.Lock()
+_last_request_at = 0.0
+
+
+def credentials_configured(user):
+    return bool(user is not None and getattr(user, "e621_configured", False))
+
+
+def _wait_for_slot():
+    global _last_request_at
+    with _throttle_lock:
+        delay = _last_request_at + REQUEST_INTERVAL - time.monotonic()
+        if delay > 0:
+            time.sleep(delay)
+        _last_request_at = time.monotonic()
+
+
+def get(user, path, params=None, timeout=30):
+    """GET an e621 API path using the user's credentials.
+
+    Raises E621NotFound for 404s and E621Error for everything else that isn't
+    a 2xx, so callers never see requests exceptions.
+    """
+    if not credentials_configured(user):
+        raise E621Error("Configure your e621 credentials in Account first.")
+    base = (getattr(user, "e621_base_url", "") or "https://e621.net").rstrip("/")
+    _wait_for_slot()
+    try:
+        response = requests.get(
+            f"{base}{path}",
+            params=params,
+            auth=(user.e621_username, user.e621_api_key),
+            headers={"User-Agent": settings.USER_AGENT},
+            timeout=timeout,
+        )
+    except requests.RequestException as exc:
+        raise E621Error(f"Could not reach e621: {exc}") from exc
+    if response.status_code == 404:
+        raise E621NotFound(f"e621 returned 404 for {path}")
+    if response.status_code >= 400:
+        raise E621Error(f"e621 replied {response.status_code} for {path}")
+    try:
+        return response.json()
+    except ValueError as exc:
+        raise E621Error("e621 returned an unexpected response.") from exc
+
+
+def find_post_by_md5(user, md5):
+    """The e621 post with this exact MD5, or None."""
+    payload = get(user, "/posts.json", params={"tags": f"md5:{md5}", "limit": 1})
+    posts = payload.get("posts") if isinstance(payload, dict) else None
+    if not posts:
+        return None
+    return posts[0]
+
+
+def fetch_post(user, post_id):
+    """One post by id. Raises E621NotFound when the post is gone."""
+    payload = get(user, f"/posts/{int(post_id)}.json")
+    post = payload.get("post") if isinstance(payload, dict) else None
+    if not isinstance(post, dict):
+        raise E621Error("e621 returned an unexpected post payload.")
+    return post

backend/apps/library/management/commands/match_e621.py

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
+from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand, CommandError
+
+from apps.library import e621, matching
+from apps.library.models import MatchTask, MediaItem
+
+
+class Command(BaseCommand):
+    help = (
+        "Match library items against e621 by MD5 and refresh matched metadata "
+        "(also detects deleted posts). Uses a user's stored e621 credentials."
+    )
+
+    def add_arguments(self, parser):
+        parser.add_argument(
+            "--user",
+            help="Username whose e621 credentials to use "
+            "(defaults to the first staff account with credentials).",
+        )
+        parser.add_argument(
+            "--scope",
+            choices=[MatchTask.SCOPE_MISSING, MatchTask.SCOPE_ALL],
+            default=MatchTask.SCOPE_MISSING,
+            help="'missing' checks unchecked items only; 'all' also refreshes "
+            "already matched items (default: missing).",
+        )
+
+    def handle(self, *args, **options):
+        User = get_user_model()
+        username = options.get("user")
+        if username:
+            user = User.objects.filter(username=username).first()
+            if user is None:
+                raise CommandError(f"No such user: {username}")
+        else:
+            user = (
+                User.objects.filter(
+                    is_staff=True, e621_api_key__gt="", e621_username__gt=""
+                )
+                .order_by("id")
+                .first()
+            )
+        if not e621.credentials_configured(user):
+            raise CommandError(
+                "No e621 credentials found. Pass --user or configure them in Account."
+            )
+
+        queryset = matching.scope_queryset(options["scope"])
+        total = queryset.count()
+        counters = {"matched": 0, "not_found": 0, "deleted": 0}
+        for index, item_id in enumerate(queryset.values_list("id", flat=True), start=1):
+            item = MediaItem.objects.filter(id=item_id).first()
+            if item is None:
+                continue
+            try:
+                status = matching.check_item(item, user)
+            except e621.E621Error as exc:
+                raise CommandError(f"Aborted after {index - 1}/{total}: {exc}")
+            counters[status] = counters.get(status, 0) + 1
+            self.stdout.write(
+                f"[{index}/{total}] J-{item_id}: {status}", ending="\r"
+            )
+
+        self.stdout.write(
+            self.style.SUCCESS(
+                "\nDone: "
+                f"{counters['matched']} matched, {counters['not_found']} not found, "
+                f"{counters['deleted']} deleted (scope: {options['scope']})."
+            )
+        )

backend/apps/library/matching.py

@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+"""Server-side matching of library items against e621.
+
+MD5 lookups, manual post links, metadata refresh (which is also how deleted
+posts are detected) and the background library-wide scan.
+"""
+
+import logging
+import threading
+from datetime import timedelta
+
+from django.db import connection
+from django.utils import timezone
+
+from . import e621
+from .models import MatchTask, MediaItem
+from .services import trim_e621_post
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+STALE_AFTER = timedelta(minutes=30)
+RATING_VALUES = {"s", "q", "e"}
+
+
+# --- single-item operations -------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def apply_post_to_item(item, post):
+    """Store trimmed e621 metadata on an item and mark it matched."""
+    trimmed = trim_e621_post(post)
+    if trimmed is None or not trimmed.get("id"):
+        raise e621.E621Error("e621 returned an unexpected post payload.")
+    item.e621_post_id = int(trimmed["id"])
+    item.e621_data = trimmed
+    item.e621_match_status = MediaItem.E621_MATCHED
+    item.e621_checked_at = timezone.now()
+    update_fields = [
+        "e621_post_id",
+        "e621_data",
+        "e621_match_status",
+        "e621_checked_at",
+    ]
+    rating = trimmed.get("rating")
+    if not item.rating and rating in RATING_VALUES:
+        item.rating = rating
+        update_fields.append("rating")
+    item.save(update_fields=update_fields + ["updated_at"])
+    return trimmed
+
+
+def mark_not_found(item):
+    item.e621_match_status = MediaItem.E621_NOT_FOUND
+    item.e621_checked_at = timezone.now()
+    item.save(update_fields=["e621_match_status", "e621_checked_at", "updated_at"])
+
+
+def mark_deleted(item):
+    item.e621_match_status = MediaItem.E621_DELETED
+    item.e621_checked_at = timezone.now()
+    item.save(update_fields=["e621_match_status", "e621_checked_at", "updated_at"])
+
+
+def match_item_by_md5(item, user):
+    """Look the item's MD5 up on e621. Returns the resulting match status."""
+    post = e621.find_post_by_md5(user, item.md5)
+    if post is None:
+        mark_not_found(item)
+        return item.e621_match_status
+    apply_post_to_item(item, post)
+    return item.e621_match_status
+
+
+def refresh_item(item, user):
+    """Re-fetch a matched post: refresh metadata or flag it as deleted."""
+    if not item.e621_post_id:
+        return match_item_by_md5(item, user)
+    try:
+        post = e621.fetch_post(user, item.e621_post_id)
+    except e621.E621NotFound:
+        mark_deleted(item)
+        return item.e621_match_status
+    apply_post_to_item(item, post)
+    return item.e621_match_status
+
+
+def link_item_to_post(item, post_id, user):
+    """Manually link an item to a post id. Returns True if the MD5s match."""
+    post = e621.fetch_post(user, post_id)
+    trimmed = apply_post_to_item(item, post)
+    post_md5 = str((trimmed.get("file") or {}).get("md5") or "").strip().lower()
+    return bool(post_md5) and post_md5 == item.md5.lower()
+
+
+def check_item(item, user):
+    """Best check for this item: refresh a known link, else MD5 lookup."""
+    if item.e621_post_id and item.e621_match_status == MediaItem.E621_MATCHED:
+        return refresh_item(item, user)
+    return match_item_by_md5(item, user)
+
+
+def unlink_item(item):
+    """Forget the e621 link so the item can be checked again."""
+    item.e621_post_id = None
+    item.e621_data = None
+    item.e621_match_status = MediaItem.E621_UNKNOWN
+    item.e621_checked_at = None
+    item.save(
+        update_fields=[
+            "e621_post_id",
+            "e621_data",
+            "e621_match_status",
+            "e621_checked_at",
+            "updated_at",
+        ]
+    )
+    return item
+
+
+# --- batch scan -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def reap_stale_match_tasks():
+    """Surface scans left hanging by a recycled worker as errors."""
+    cutoff = timezone.now() - STALE_AFTER
+    return MatchTask.objects.filter(
+        status__in=[MatchTask.STATUS_PENDING, MatchTask.STATUS_RUNNING],
+        updated_at__lt=cutoff,
+    ).update(
+        status=MatchTask.STATUS_ERROR,
+        error="The worker restarted before this scan finished.",
+        updated_at=timezone.now(),
+    )
+
+
+def scope_queryset(scope):
+    queryset = MediaItem.objects.order_by("id")
+    if scope == MatchTask.SCOPE_ALL:
+        return queryset
+    return queryset.filter(e621_match_status=MediaItem.E621_UNKNOWN)
+
+
+def start_match_task(task_id):
+    thread = threading.Thread(target=run_match_task, args=(task_id,), daemon=True)
+    thread.start()
+
+
+def run_match_task(task_id):
+    task = MatchTask.objects.filter(id=task_id).first()
+    if task is None:
+        return
+
+    item_ids = list(scope_queryset(task.scope).values_list("id", flat=True))
+    counters = {"matched": 0, "not_found": 0, "deleted": 0}
+    failed = 0
+    MatchTask.objects.filter(id=task_id).update(
+        status=MatchTask.STATUS_RUNNING,
+        total=len(item_ids),
+        processed=0,
+        updated_at=timezone.now(),
+    )
+
+    def save_progress(processed):
+        MatchTask.objects.filter(id=task_id).update(
+            processed=processed,
+            failed=failed,
+            updated_at=timezone.now(),
+            **counters,
+        )
+
+    try:
+        processed = 0
+        for item_id in item_ids:
+            if MatchTask.objects.filter(id=task_id, cancelled=True).exists():
+                MatchTask.objects.filter(id=task_id).update(
+                    status=MatchTask.STATUS_CANCELLED, updated_at=timezone.now()
+                )
+                return
+            item = MediaItem.objects.filter(id=item_id).first()
+            if item is None:
+                processed += 1
+                continue
+            try:
+                status = check_item(item, task.user)
+                counters[status] = counters.get(status, 0) + 1
+            except e621.E621Error as exc:
+                # A broken credential or an e621 outage would fail every
+                # remaining item; abort instead of hammering the API.
+                logger.warning("Match scan %s aborted: %s", task_id, exc)
+                failed += 1
+                MatchTask.objects.filter(id=task_id).update(
+                    status=MatchTask.STATUS_ERROR,
+                    processed=processed,
+                    failed=failed,
+                    error=str(exc),
+                    updated_at=timezone.now(),
+                    **counters,
+                )
+                return
+            processed += 1
+            save_progress(processed)
+        MatchTask.objects.filter(id=task_id).update(
+            status=MatchTask.STATUS_COMPLETE,
+            processed=len(item_ids),
+            updated_at=timezone.now(),
+            **counters,
+        )
+    finally:
+        # Background threads hold their own DB connection; release it so
+        # Gunicorn workers do not leak connections when threads finish.
+        connection.close()

backend/apps/library/migrations/0009_mediaitem_e621_checked_at_and_more.py

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# Generated by Django 6.1.1 on 2026-09-17 18:35
+
+import django.db.models.deletion
+import uuid
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+def mark_existing_matches(apps, schema_editor):
+    """Items downloaded/linked before the match cache existed."""
+    MediaItem = apps.get_model("library", "MediaItem")
+    MediaItem.objects.filter(e621_post_id__isnull=False).update(
+        e621_match_status="matched",
+        e621_checked_at=models.F("updated_at"),
+    )
+
+
+def unmark_matches(apps, schema_editor):
+    MediaItem = apps.get_model("library", "MediaItem")
+    MediaItem.objects.filter(e621_post_id__isnull=False).update(
+        e621_match_status="unknown",
+        e621_checked_at=None,
+    )
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('library', '0008_mediaitem_has_custom_data_mediaitem_search_tags'),
+        migrations.swappable_dependency(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='mediaitem',
+            name='e621_checked_at',
+            field=models.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True),
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='mediaitem',
+            name='e621_match_status',
+            field=models.CharField(choices=[('unknown', 'Not checked'), ('matched', 'Matched'), ('not_found', 'Not found on e621'), ('deleted', 'Post deleted on e621')], db_index=True, default='unknown', max_length=20),
+        ),
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='MatchTask',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.UUIDField(default=uuid.uuid4, editable=False, primary_key=True, serialize=False)),
+                ('scope', models.CharField(choices=[('missing', 'Unchecked items'), ('all', 'Whole library')], default='missing', max_length=20)),
+                ('status', models.CharField(choices=[('pending', 'Pending'), ('running', 'Running'), ('complete', 'Complete'), ('error', 'Error'), ('cancelled', 'Cancelled')], default='pending', max_length=20)),
+                ('total', models.IntegerField(default=0)),
+                ('processed', models.IntegerField(default=0)),
+                ('matched', models.IntegerField(default=0)),
+                ('not_found', models.IntegerField(default=0)),
+                ('deleted', models.IntegerField(default=0)),
+                ('failed', models.IntegerField(default=0)),
+                ('error', models.TextField(blank=True, default='')),
+                ('cancelled', models.BooleanField(default=False)),
+                ('created_at', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)),
+                ('updated_at', models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)),
+                ('user', models.ForeignKey(blank=True, null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL, related_name='match_tasks', to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'ordering': ['-created_at'],
+            },
+        ),
+        migrations.RunPython(mark_existing_matches, unmark_matches),
+    ]

backend/apps/library/models.py

@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@ def build_search_tags(tags, e621_data):
 class MediaItem(models.Model):
     """A logical media file, identified by its MD5 fingerprint."""
 
+    E621_UNKNOWN = "unknown"
+    E621_MATCHED = "matched"
+    E621_NOT_FOUND = "not_found"
+    E621_DELETED = "deleted"
+    E621_STATUS_CHOICES = [
+        (E621_UNKNOWN, "Not checked"),
+        (E621_MATCHED, "Matched"),
+        (E621_NOT_FOUND, "Not found on e621"),
+        (E621_DELETED, "Post deleted on e621"),
+    ]
+
     md5 = models.CharField(max_length=32, unique=True)
     size = models.BigIntegerField(default=0)
     # Custom rating: "s" (safe), "q" (questionable), "e" (explicit) or "" (unrated).
@@ -44,6 +55,14 @@ class MediaItem(models.Model):
     hidden_from_guests = models.BooleanField(default=False, db_index=True)
     e621_post_id = models.IntegerField(null=True, blank=True, db_index=True)
     e621_data = models.JSONField(null=True, blank=True)
+    # Cached result of the last MD5/manual match against e621.
+    e621_match_status = models.CharField(
+        max_length=20,
+        choices=E621_STATUS_CHOICES,
+        default=E621_UNKNOWN,
+        db_index=True,
+    )
+    e621_checked_at = models.DateTimeField(null=True, blank=True)
     # Perceptual hashes (hex strings) used by the duplicates engine.
     ahash = models.CharField(max_length=32, blank=True, default="", db_index=True)
     dhash = models.CharField(max_length=32, blank=True, default="", db_index=True)
@@ -207,3 +226,58 @@ class DownloadTask(models.Model):
 
     def __str__(self):
         return f"Download {self.id} ({self.status})"
+
+
+class MatchTask(models.Model):
+    """A background library-wide e621 match scan with progress tracking."""
+
+    STATUS_PENDING = "pending"
+    STATUS_RUNNING = "running"
+    STATUS_COMPLETE = "complete"
+    STATUS_ERROR = "error"
+    STATUS_CANCELLED = "cancelled"
+    STATUS_CHOICES = [
+        (STATUS_PENDING, "Pending"),
+        (STATUS_RUNNING, "Running"),
+        (STATUS_COMPLETE, "Complete"),
+        (STATUS_ERROR, "Error"),
+        (STATUS_CANCELLED, "Cancelled"),
+    ]
+
+    SCOPE_MISSING = "missing"
+    SCOPE_ALL = "all"
+    SCOPE_CHOICES = [
+        (SCOPE_MISSING, "Unchecked items"),
+        (SCOPE_ALL, "Whole library"),
+    ]
+
+    id = models.UUIDField(primary_key=True, default=uuid.uuid4, editable=False)
+    user = models.ForeignKey(
+        settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL,
+        null=True,
+        blank=True,
+        on_delete=models.SET_NULL,
+        related_name="match_tasks",
+    )
+    scope = models.CharField(
+        max_length=20, choices=SCOPE_CHOICES, default=SCOPE_MISSING
+    )
+    status = models.CharField(
+        max_length=20, choices=STATUS_CHOICES, default=STATUS_PENDING
+    )
+    total = models.IntegerField(default=0)
+    processed = models.IntegerField(default=0)
+    matched = models.IntegerField(default=0)
+    not_found = models.IntegerField(default=0)
+    deleted = models.IntegerField(default=0)
+    failed = models.IntegerField(default=0)
+    error = models.TextField(blank=True, default="")
+    cancelled = models.BooleanField(default=False)
+    created_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
+    updated_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)
+
+    class Meta:
+        ordering = ["-created_at"]
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return f"Match scan {self.id} ({self.status})"

backend/apps/library/serializers.py

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from django.core import signing
 from rest_framework import serializers
 
-from .models import MediaItem, MediaLocation, TempUpload, DownloadTask
+from .models import MediaItem, MediaLocation, TempUpload, DownloadTask, MatchTask
 from .services import (
     MEDIA_FILE_SALT,
     UPLOAD_FILE_SALT,
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ class MediaItemSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
             "uploaded_by_id",
             "e621_post_id",
             "e621_data",
+            "e621_match_status",
+            "e621_checked_at",
             "locations",
             "created_at",
             "updated_at",
@@ -74,6 +76,8 @@ class MediaItemSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
             "uploaded_by_id",
             "e621_post_id",
             "e621_data",
+            "e621_match_status",
+            "e621_checked_at",
             "locations",
             "created_at",
             "updated_at",
@@ -220,3 +224,25 @@ class DownloadTaskSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
 
     def get_library_j_id(self, obj):
         return f"J-{obj.library_item_id}" if obj.library_item_id else None
+
+
+class MatchTaskSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
+    task_id = serializers.UUIDField(source="id", read_only=True)
+
+    class Meta:
+        model = MatchTask
+        fields = [
+            "task_id",
+            "scope",
+            "status",
+            "total",
+            "processed",
+            "matched",
+            "not_found",
+            "deleted",
+            "failed",
+            "error",
+            "created_at",
+            "updated_at",
+        ]
+        read_only_fields = fields

backend/apps/library/uploads.py

@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.core import signing
 from django.http import Http404
+from django.utils import timezone
 from rest_framework import mixins, status, viewsets
 from rest_framework.decorators import action
 from rest_framework.parsers import FormParser, JSONParser, MultiPartParser
@@ -114,7 +115,14 @@ def complete_temp_upload(temp, download_url=None):
     if temp.e621_post_id is not None:
         item.e621_post_id = temp.e621_post_id
         item.e621_data = temp.e621_data
-        update_fields += ["e621_post_id", "e621_data"]
+        item.e621_match_status = MediaItem.E621_MATCHED
+        item.e621_checked_at = timezone.now()
+        update_fields += [
+            "e621_post_id",
+            "e621_data",
+            "e621_match_status",
+            "e621_checked_at",
+        ]
     if temp.custom_rating in {"s", "q", "e"} and not item.rating:
         item.rating = temp.custom_rating
         update_fields.append("rating")

backend/apps/library/urls.py

@@ -11,12 +11,18 @@ from .tools import (
     VisualMatchesView,
 )
 from .uploads import TempUploadViewSet
-from .views import ClientDownloadView, DownloadTaskViewSet, MediaItemViewSet
+from .views import (
+    ClientDownloadView,
+    DownloadTaskViewSet,
+    MatchTaskViewSet,
+    MediaItemViewSet,
+)
 
 router = DefaultRouter()
 router.register("files", MediaItemViewSet, basename="file")
 router.register("uploads", TempUploadViewSet, basename="upload")
 router.register("online/downloads", DownloadTaskViewSet, basename="download")
+router.register("matches", MatchTaskViewSet, basename="match")
 
 urlpatterns = [
     path("", include(router.urls)),

backend/apps/library/views.py

@@ -15,11 +15,16 @@ from rest_framework.permissions import AllowAny, IsAuthenticatedOrReadOnly
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 from rest_framework.views import APIView
 
-from . import services
+from . import e621, matching, services
 from .downloads import reap_stale_downloads, start_download_task
-from .models import DownloadTask, MediaItem
+from .matching import reap_stale_match_tasks, start_match_task
+from .models import DownloadTask, MatchTask, MediaItem
 from .permissions import CanUpload, IsUploaderOrStaffOrReadOnly
-from .serializers import DownloadTaskSerializer, MediaItemSerializer
+from .serializers import (
+    DownloadTaskSerializer,
+    MatchTaskSerializer,
+    MediaItemSerializer,
+)
 
 LIST_ORDERINGS = {"name", "-name", "size", "-size", "created_at", "-created_at"}
 MD5_RE = re.compile(r"[0-9a-fA-F]{32}")
@@ -83,12 +88,15 @@ class MediaItemViewSet(
                 if status_value == "custom":
                     status_query |= Q(has_custom_data=True)
                 elif status_value == "matched":
-                    status_query |= Q(
+                    status_query |= Q(e621_match_status=MediaItem.E621_MATCHED)
-                        has_custom_data=False, e621_post_id__isnull=False
+                elif status_value == "not_found":
-                    )
+                    status_query |= Q(e621_match_status=MediaItem.E621_NOT_FOUND)
+                elif status_value == "deleted":
+                    status_query |= Q(e621_match_status=MediaItem.E621_DELETED)
                 elif status_value == "unknown":
                     status_query |= Q(
-                        has_custom_data=False, e621_post_id__isnull=True
+                        has_custom_data=False,
+                        e621_match_status=MediaItem.E621_UNKNOWN,
                     )
             queryset = queryset.filter(status_query)
         ordering = self.request.query_params.get("ordering", "").strip()
@@ -230,6 +238,64 @@ class MediaItemViewSet(
             }
         )
 
+    def _can_match(self, request, item):
+        user = request.user
+        return bool(
+            user.is_superuser
+            or user.role == user.ROLE_STAFF
+            or item.uploaded_by_id == user.id
+        )
+
+    @action(detail=True, methods=["post"], permission_classes=[CanUpload])
+    def match(self, request, pk=None):
+        """Link this item to e621: MD5 lookup, or an explicit post id."""
+        item = self.get_object()
+        if not self._can_match(request, item):
+            return Response(
+                {"detail": "Only the uploader or staff can match this item."},
+                status=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
+            )
+        extra = {}
+        post_id = request.data.get("post_id")
+        try:
+            if post_id not in (None, ""):
+                text = str(post_id).strip()
+                if not text.isdigit():
+                    return Response(
+                        {"detail": "Post ID must be a number."},
+                        status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+                    )
+                extra["md5_match"] = matching.link_item_to_post(
+                    item, int(text), request.user
+                )
+            else:
+                matching.check_item(item, request.user)
+        except e621.E621NotFound:
+            return Response(
+                {"detail": "That post does not exist on e621."},
+                status=status.HTTP_404_NOT_FOUND,
+            )
+        except e621.E621Error as exc:
+            return Response(
+                {"detail": str(exc)}, status=status.HTTP_502_BAD_GATEWAY
+            )
+        item.refresh_from_db()
+        data = dict(self.get_serializer(item).data)
+        data.update(extra)
+        return Response(data)
+
+    @action(detail=True, methods=["post"], permission_classes=[CanUpload])
+    def unlink(self, request, pk=None):
+        """Forget this item's e621 link so it can be matched again."""
+        item = self.get_object()
+        if not self._can_match(request, item):
+            return Response(
+                {"detail": "Only the uploader or staff can unlink this item."},
+                status=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
+            )
+        matching.unlink_item(item)
+        return Response(self.get_serializer(item).data)
+
 
 class DownloadTaskViewSet(
     mixins.ListModelMixin,
@@ -295,6 +361,49 @@ class DownloadTaskViewSet(
         return Response({"success": True})
 
 
+class MatchTaskViewSet(
+    mixins.ListModelMixin,
+    mixins.RetrieveModelMixin,
+    viewsets.GenericViewSet,
+):
+    """Background library-wide e621 match scans."""
+
+    serializer_class = MatchTaskSerializer
+    permission_classes = [CanUpload]
+    http_method_names = ["get", "post", "head", "options"]
+
+    def get_queryset(self):
+        reap_stale_match_tasks()
+        queryset = MatchTask.objects.all()
+        user = self.request.user
+        if not (user.is_staff or user.is_superuser):
+            queryset = queryset.filter(user=user)
+        return queryset
+
+    def create(self, request):
+        scope = str(request.data.get("scope") or MatchTask.SCOPE_MISSING).strip()
+        if scope not in {MatchTask.SCOPE_MISSING, MatchTask.SCOPE_ALL}:
+            scope = MatchTask.SCOPE_MISSING
+        task = MatchTask.objects.create(user=request.user, scope=scope)
+        start_match_task(task.id)
+        return Response(
+            self.get_serializer(task).data, status=status.HTTP_202_ACCEPTED
+        )
+
+    @action(detail=True, methods=["post"])
+    def cancel(self, request, pk=None):
+        task = self.get_object()
+        if task.status not in {MatchTask.STATUS_PENDING, MatchTask.STATUS_RUNNING}:
+            return Response(
+                {"detail": "Task is not running."},
+                status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+            )
+        MatchTask.objects.filter(id=task.id).update(
+            cancelled=True, updated_at=timezone.now()
+        )
+        return Response({"success": True})
+
+
 class ClientDownloadView(APIView):
     """Stream an e621 file straight to the browser (no library write)."""
 

frontend/src/features/library/LibraryDetail.tsx

@@ -12,7 +12,12 @@ import { isTypingTarget } from "@/lib/dom";
 import { renderDText } from "@/lib/dtext";
 import { RATING_LABELS, TAG_CATEGORY_LABELS } from "@/lib/e621";
 import { formatBytes, formatDate } from "@/lib/format";
-import type { FileNeighbors, MediaItem, Rating } from "@/lib/types";
+import type {
+  E621MatchStatus,
+  FileNeighbors,
+  MediaItem,
+  Rating,
+} from "@/lib/types";
 import { useAuth } from "@/store/auth";
 import { useUi } from "@/store/ui";
 
@@ -45,6 +50,188 @@ const ratingLabel: Record<string, string> = {
   e: "Explicit",
 };
 
+const matchStatusMeta: Record<
+  E621MatchStatus,
+  { label: string; className: string }
+> = {
+  unknown: {
+    label: "Not checked",
+    className: "border-ctp-surface2 bg-ctp-surface0 text-ctp-subtext1",
+  },
+  matched: {
+    label: "Matched",
+    className: "border-ctp-green/40 bg-ctp-green/15 text-ctp-green",
+  },
+  not_found: {
+    label: "Not found on e621",
+    className: "border-ctp-yellow/40 bg-ctp-yellow/15 text-ctp-yellow",
+  },
+  deleted: {
+    label: "Deleted on e621",
+    className: "border-ctp-red/40 bg-ctp-red/15 text-ctp-red",
+  },
+};
+
+function MatchCard({ item, canEdit }: { item: MediaItem; canEdit: boolean }) {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  const [postId, setPostId] = useState("");
+  const [notice, setNotice] = useState<{
+    kind: "ok" | "warn" | "error";
+    text: string;
+  } | null>(null);
+
+  function refresh() {
+    void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["file", item.j_id] });
+    void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["files"] });
+    void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["tag-cloud"] });
+  }
+
+  const checkMutation = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: () =>
+      api<MediaItem>(`/api/files/${item.j_id}/match/`, {
+        method: "POST",
+        json: {},
+      }),
+    onSuccess: (data) => {
+      refresh();
+      if (data.e621_match_status === "matched") {
+        setNotice({ kind: "ok", text: `Matched to post #${data.e621_post_id}.` });
+      } else if (data.e621_match_status === "deleted") {
+        setNotice({
+          kind: "error",
+          text: "The linked post no longer exists on e621.",
+        });
+      } else {
+        setNotice({
+          kind: "warn",
+          text: "No e621 post with this file's MD5 was found.",
+        });
+      }
+    },
+    onError: (error) =>
+      setNotice({ kind: "error", text: errorMessage(error) }),
+  });
+
+  const linkMutation = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: (id: number) =>
+      api<MediaItem & { md5_match?: boolean }>(`/api/files/${item.j_id}/match/`, {
+        method: "POST",
+        json: { post_id: id },
+      }),
+    onSuccess: (data) => {
+      refresh();
+      setPostId("");
+      setNotice(
+        data.md5_match
+          ? {
+              kind: "ok",
+              text: `Linked to post #${data.e621_post_id} — MD5 matches.`,
+            }
+          : {
+              kind: "warn",
+              text: `Linked to post #${data.e621_post_id}, but its MD5 differs from this file.`,
+            },
+      );
+    },
+    onError: (error) =>
+      setNotice({ kind: "error", text: errorMessage(error) }),
+  });
+
+  const unlinkMutation = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: () =>
+      api<MediaItem>(`/api/files/${item.j_id}/unlink/`, { method: "POST" }),
+    onSuccess: () => {
+      refresh();
+      setNotice({ kind: "ok", text: "e621 link removed." });
+    },
+    onError: (error) =>
+      setNotice({ kind: "error", text: errorMessage(error) }),
+  });
+
+  const meta = matchStatusMeta[item.e621_match_status];
+
+  return (
+    <section className="rounded-lg border border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-base p-4">
+      <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
+        <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-ctp-subtext1">e621 match</h2>
+        <span
+          className={cn(
+            "rounded-full border px-2 py-0.5 text-[11px] font-medium",
+            meta.className,
+          )}
+        >
+          {meta.label}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+
+      <p className="mt-2 text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
+        {item.e621_checked_at
+          ? `Last checked ${formatDate(item.e621_checked_at)}`
+          : "This item has not been checked against e621 yet."}
+      </p>
+
+      {canEdit ? (
+        <div className="mt-3 flex flex-col gap-2">
+          <div className="flex gap-2">
+            <Button
+              variant="secondary"
+              disabled={checkMutation.isPending}
+              onClick={() => checkMutation.mutate()}
+            >
+              {checkMutation.isPending
+                ? "Checking…"
+                : item.e621_post_id
+                  ? "Recheck"
+                  : "Check MD5"}
+            </Button>
+            {item.e621_post_id ? (
+              <Button
+                variant="ghost"
+                disabled={unlinkMutation.isPending}
+                onClick={() => unlinkMutation.mutate()}
+              >
+                Unlink
+              </Button>
+            ) : null}
+          </div>
+          <div className="flex gap-2">
+            <input
+              className={inputClass}
+              placeholder="Post ID"
+              inputMode="numeric"
+              value={postId}
+              onChange={(event) =>
+                setPostId(event.target.value.replace(/[^0-9]/g, ""))
+              }
+            />
+            <Button
+              disabled={!postId || linkMutation.isPending}
+              onClick={() => linkMutation.mutate(Number(postId))}
+            >
+              Link
+            </Button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      ) : null}
+
+      {notice ? (
+        <p
+          className={cn(
+            "mt-2 text-xs",
+            notice.kind === "ok"
+              ? "text-ctp-green"
+              : notice.kind === "warn"
+                ? "text-ctp-yellow"
+                : "text-ctp-red",
+          )}
+        >
+          {notice.text}
+        </p>
+      ) : null}
+    </section>
+  );
+}
+
 function E621MetadataCard({ item }: { item: MediaItem }) {
   const data = item.e621_data;
   if (!item.e621_post_id || !data) return null;
@@ -77,6 +264,13 @@ function E621MetadataCard({ item }: { item: MediaItem }) {
         </span>
       </div>
 
+      {item.e621_match_status === "deleted" ? (
+        <p className="mt-3 rounded border border-ctp-red/40 bg-ctp-red/10 px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs text-ctp-red">
+          This post has been deleted on e621 — the metadata below is a cached
+          copy.
+        </p>
+      ) : null}
+
       <dl className="mt-3 grid grid-cols-2 gap-x-4 gap-y-2 text-xs sm:grid-cols-4">
         <div>
           <dt className="text-ctp-overlay0">Rating</dt>
@@ -501,6 +695,8 @@ export function LibraryDetail({ jId }: { jId: string }) {
             </p>
           </section>
 
+          <MatchCard key={item.j_id} item={item} canEdit={canEdit} />
+
           <section className="rounded-lg border border-ctp-surface0 bg-ctp-base p-4">
             <h2 className="text-sm font-semibold text-ctp-subtext1">
               Locations ({item.locations.length})

frontend/src/features/library/LibraryPage.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { useState, useEffect, type FormEvent } from "react";
 import { CollapsibleSidebar } from "@/components/CollapsibleSidebar";
 import { MediaCard } from "@/components/MediaCard";
 import { Button, EmptyState, Spinner, inputClass } from "@/components/ui";
+import { MatchPanel } from "@/features/library/MatchPanel";
 import { api } from "@/lib/api";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/cn";
 import { isTypingTarget } from "@/lib/dom";
@@ -47,6 +48,16 @@ const statusFilters = [
     label: "Matched",
     active: "border-ctp-green/40 bg-ctp-green/15 text-ctp-green",
   },
+  {
+    value: "not_found",
+    label: "Not found",
+    active: "border-ctp-yellow/40 bg-ctp-yellow/15 text-ctp-yellow",
+  },
+  {
+    value: "deleted",
+    label: "Deleted",
+    active: "border-ctp-red/40 bg-ctp-red/15 text-ctp-red",
+  },
   {
     value: "custom",
     label: "Custom",
@@ -323,11 +334,14 @@ export default function LibraryPage() {
               ? `${query.data.count} item${query.data.count === 1 ? "" : "s"}`
               : "…"}
           </p>
-          {pageCount > 1 ? (
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-            <p className="font-mono text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
+            {pageCount > 1 ? (
-              Page {page} / {pageCount}
+              <p className="font-mono text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
-            </p>
+                Page {page} / {pageCount}
-          ) : null}
+              </p>
+            ) : null}
+            {user?.can_upload ? <MatchPanel /> : null}
+          </div>
         </div>
 
         {!user ? (

frontend/src/features/library/MatchPanel.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { RefreshCw, X } from "lucide-react";
+import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+
+import { Button, Spinner } from "@/components/ui";
+import { api, errorMessage } from "@/lib/api";
+import type { MatchTask } from "@/lib/types";
+
+type Scope = "missing" | "all";
+
+function summary(task: MatchTask): string {
+  const parts = [
+    `${task.matched} matched`,
+    `${task.not_found} not found`,
+    `${task.deleted} deleted`,
+  ];
+  if (task.failed > 0) parts.push(`${task.failed} failed`);
+  return parts.join(" · ");
+}
+
+export function MatchPanel() {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  const [taskId, setTaskId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [menuOpen, setMenuOpen] = useState(false);
+
+  const taskQuery = useQuery({
+    queryKey: ["match-task", taskId],
+    queryFn: () => api<MatchTask>(`/api/matches/${taskId}/`),
+    enabled: Boolean(taskId),
+    refetchInterval: (query) => {
+      const status = query.state.data?.status;
+      return status === "pending" || status === "running" ? 1000 : false;
+    },
+  });
+
+  const task = taskQuery.data;
+  const running = task?.status === "pending" || task?.status === "running";
+  const finishedTaskId = task && !running ? task.task_id : null;
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!finishedTaskId) return;
+    void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["files"] });
+    void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["tag-cloud"] });
+  }, [finishedTaskId, queryClient]);
+
+  const startMutation = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: (scope: Scope) =>
+      api<MatchTask>("/api/matches/", { method: "POST", json: { scope } }),
+    onSuccess: (data) => {
+      setTaskId(data.task_id);
+      setMenuOpen(false);
+    },
+  });
+
+  const cancelMutation = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: () =>
+      api<{ success: boolean }>(`/api/matches/${taskId}/cancel/`, {
+        method: "POST",
+      }),
+  });
+
+  if (running && task) {
+    const percent = task.total
+      ? Math.round((task.processed * 100) / task.total)
+      : 0;
+    return (
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+        <div className="w-36">
+          <div className="h-1.5 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-ctp-surface0">
+            <div
+              className="h-full bg-ctp-mauve transition-all"
+              style={{ width: `${percent}%` }}
+            />
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <span className="font-mono text-xs text-ctp-subtext0">
+          {task.processed}/{task.total} · {task.matched} matched
+        </span>
+        <Button
+          variant="ghost"
+          disabled={cancelMutation.isPending}
+          onClick={() => cancelMutation.mutate()}
+        >
+          Cancel
+        </Button>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (task) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs">
+        {task.status === "complete" ? (
+          <span className="text-ctp-green">Scan complete — {summary(task)}</span>
+        ) : task.status === "cancelled" ? (
+          <span className="text-ctp-subtext0">Scan cancelled.</span>
+        ) : (
+          <span className="text-ctp-red">
+            {task.error || "The scan failed."}
+          </span>
+        )}
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="text-ctp-overlay0 transition hover:text-ctp-text"
+          onClick={() => setTaskId(null)}
+          title="Dismiss"
+        >
+          <X className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        </button>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <div className="relative">
+      <Button variant="secondary" onClick={() => setMenuOpen((open) => !open)}>
+        {startMutation.isPending ? (
+          <Spinner className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        ) : (
+          <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4" />
+        )}
+        Match e621
+      </Button>
+
+      {menuOpen ? (
+        <div className="absolute right-0 top-full z-20 mt-2 w-72 rounded-lg border border-ctp-surface1 bg-ctp-base p-1.5 shadow-lg">
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            className="flex w-full flex-col rounded-md px-2.5 py-2 text-left transition hover:bg-ctp-surface0"
+            onClick={() => startMutation.mutate("missing")}
+          >
+            <span className="text-sm text-ctp-text">
+              Check unchecked items
+            </span>
+            <span className="text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
+              MD5 lookups for items never checked against e621.
+            </span>
+          </button>
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            className="flex w-full flex-col rounded-md px-2.5 py-2 text-left transition hover:bg-ctp-surface0"
+            onClick={() => startMutation.mutate("all")}
+          >
+            <span className="text-sm text-ctp-text">Recheck the library</span>
+            <span className="text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
+              Refreshes matched metadata and flags deleted posts too.
+            </span>
+          </button>
+          {startMutation.isError ? (
+            <p className="px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs text-ctp-red">
+              {errorMessage(startMutation.error)}
+            </p>
+          ) : null}
+        </div>
+      ) : null}
+    </div>
+  );
+}

frontend/src/lib/types.ts

@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ export interface MediaLocation {
 
 export type Rating = "" | "s" | "q" | "e";
 
+export type E621MatchStatus = "unknown" | "matched" | "not_found" | "deleted";
+
 export interface E621StoredPost {
   id: number | null;
   created_at?: string | null;
@@ -126,6 +128,8 @@ export interface MediaItem {
   uploaded_by_id: number | null;
   e621_post_id: number | null;
   e621_data: E621StoredPost | null;
+  e621_match_status: E621MatchStatus;
+  e621_checked_at: string | null;
   locations: MediaLocation[];
   raw_url: string;
   thumbnail_url: string;
@@ -185,6 +189,21 @@ export interface DownloadTask {
   updated_at: string;
 }
 
+export interface MatchTask {
+  task_id: string;
+  scope: "missing" | "all";
+  status: "pending" | "running" | "complete" | "error" | "cancelled";
+  total: number;
+  processed: number;
+  matched: number;
+  not_found: number;
+  deleted: number;
+  failed: number;
+  error: string;
+  created_at: string;
+  updated_at: string;
+}
+
 export interface E621IqdbCandidate {
   post_id: number | null;
   score: number | null;